Polkadot Infrastructure Spotlight: Pinknode
Pinknode offers a globally distributed, multi-cloud network of nodes for multi-chain access across the Polkadot ecosystem.
Polkadot has been one of the fastest-growing ecosystems in the crypto space. As of this writing, 14 parachains are live, and they have bonded more than 129 million $DOT. We now see more developers seeking dependable infrastructure to begin building on this network after seeing Polkadot’s recent achievements and the success of Kusama’s parachain auctions.
Validator nodes, which are responsible for performing functions like validating transactions, submitting votes on the governance network, and storing records on the blockchain, are some of the critical infrastructure components of a typical blockchain network. The current Polkadot ecosystem is not optimized for the growing demand for nodes and other infrastructural components.
Current challenges of existing nodes:
Possible network congestion on Public API Endpoints
Most dApp developers who want to transact and query data (access a node) on Polkadot use the public API endpoints on Polkadot. The public endpoints are free and readily available to aid testing and development. As the adoption of Polkadot increases and more parachains go live, we are likely to see more dApps migrate to Polkadot, leading to a more congested network that will ultimately impact Polkadot’s Public API Endpoints.
It can be costly to run nodes
Some developers and projects on Polkadot may opt to run and maintain their nodes to achieve greater reliability and scalability. DApps need a peer-to-peer network connection. However, it may take days to synchronize a node with Polkadot’s blockchain. Such a request may even exceed the storage and bandwidth assigned to it.
Storage
Storing the entire Polkadot Blockchain in an archive node can be costly, and it even gets more expensive with every new node. Projects running nodes may be forced to have site reliability engineers and specialized developer operations (DevOps) for full-time maintenance as infrastructure complexity continues to rise and the Polkadot ecosystem continues to expand.
Server location
Another challenge is server location, which impacts the response time of nodes and provisioning of costly redundancies across multiple layers to handle unexpected spikes in the usage of a decentralized app.
How Pinknode can help
Pinknode solves the above challenges and efficiency gaps by providing an affordable, easy-to-use, superior alternative to running individual nodes. This subscription-based software infrastructure service provider adopts a microservice architecture for quick continuous improvements and deployment and focuses on maintaining high availability through efficient redundancy planning.
Pinknode nodes are deployed globally. These nodes have built-in auto-scaling features and enhanced load balancing, and with such a setting, developers can now instantly generate reliable and scalable custom API endpoints. Pinknode also comes with a personalized dashboard that displays the node usage analytics. It’s live and usable right now.
Early-bird developers can sign up using this form.
Key Benefits of Pinknode
High availability
Users no longer have to worry about node infrastructure as Pinknode promises high availability at all times. Users can expect high scalability and optimal reliability even under sudden spikes in utilization or high traffic. Developers can have peace of mind and focus on product development as Auto Scaling, efficient redundancies, and smart load balancers are in place to ensure nodes are always online.
Polka-centric
If your dream is to join Polkadot, one of the fastest-growing blockchain ecosystems, Pinknode makes it easy. Syncing up a node to the Polkadot blockchain may take days as blockchain applications need connections to a peer-to-peer network. With Pinknode, you can bypass all this hassle with its one-click solution that instantly generates custom API endpoints to connect your product to the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems.
Save costs
For those who subscribe, Pinknode carries the burden of infrastructure maintenance. Users stake $PNODE tokens to access the API endpoints, and they will only be burnt when requests are made. This approach is more flexible than a monthly subscription service where you must pay a certain amount. Pinknode is currently offering 500,000 request a day rate limit for free to developers building on Polkadot networks. Create an account here.
Multichain compatibility
Polkadot holds 100 parachains. Not all parachain slots will be offered through auctions. Some slots will be allocated to governance-enabled common-good parathreads and parachains. Pinknode understands that poor compatibility has been one of the most significant barriers to fully utilizing blockchain projects and provides a one-stop solution for apps that require multichain support on the Polkadot ecosystem. You can rely on this infrastructure compatible with the relay chain, parachains & parathreads.
Global availability
Nodes that are always online are likely to be nominated as validators on the Polkadot ecosystem. Offline nodes are likely to be slashed. Pinknode nodes are globally distributed to ensure high throughput and low latency.
What is $PNODE?
Like most blockchain projects, the Pinknode network has a utility and governance token, $PNODE. The token supply is capped at 200 million tokens, and tokens have the following uses:
- On-chain governance. Token holders can vote on network and protocol upgrades.
- Community members can stake in collators and node ownership.
- Developers who want to create products on Pinknode will pay fees in $PNODE.
Wrapping up
The blockchain industry is projected to reach a value of $34 billion by 2026. We will likely fall short if the right infrastructure is not in place. Pinknode’s Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solution becomes essential as Polkadot’s ecosystem continues to expand and add parachains and parathreads. Aside from the privately-held multi-billion dollar companies like Alchemy and Infura, there’s only a handful of these kinds of infrastructure solutions currently being developed. Pinknode is one of them. Their solutions make it easy for anyone with an internet connection to access blockchain and Web 3 economies, and they understand the value and benefits of decentralization.
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